Let me encourage each of the families of our church to take time this Sunday morning for worship. There's nowhere to GO; there will be no Sunday School or professionals instructing our children. But the calling to worship and to instruct does not end. Instead, we get to discover how true it is that God has not given responsibility for worship and the instruction of children only to a church leader, but Primarily to parents! So this is YOUR time. Make plans. Gather your children and have church in your living room!

Don't feel overwhelmed. This is not difficult or intimidating. Let me give you a few pointers as you seek to lead your family:

  1. Read the Bible.           Out loud.
    • Don't go crazy and read a whole book -the kids will understandably begin to squirm.        Read a small section -one Psalm, or a story about Jesus from the Gospels. Or one of each. 10 to 20 verses is enough. If your children are VERY small, read a good Bible storybook to them.
    • Then ask good questions. Don't ask "yes or no" questions. Ask questions that inspire real contribution. "What do you think about that?"        What do you think this means for you? How does Jesus want us to treat others?       Where is God when we're scared?                 What does God want us to know? How does this make you feel? Ask different questions of each child, and follow the conversation where it leads.
    • And if a question is asked of YOU that you can't answer, be sure to write it down and call somebody later on, maybe the pastor. Then answer the question the next time.
  2. Sing Together!
    • Singing in homes as families used to be VERY common. It's a shame that our culture has somehow concluded that singing as a family is awkward.
    • Sing a hymn together. Or a favorite worship song. It doesn't have to be long, it doesn't have to be extended, but there is a wise saying that "we sing the truth into our hearts."
  3. Spend time in Prayer
    • Ask your children to pray -even for something very small or brief. They have their own concerns, and should be encouraged to bring them before the Lord.
    • Keep your own prayer short -3 minutes is enough. You don't have to pray for everything, but be sure to pray for SOMETHING.
    • I recommend an outline such as ACTS
      • Adoration        -praise God for who he is.
      • Confession       -repent of sin (in a general way) and ask forgiveness
      • Thanksgiving   -Thank God for saving us, and giving what we need
      • Supplication    -Make requests of God Be sure to pray, as Jesus modeled for us, for God's Kingdom to advance.
    • Pray that we all, including our missionaries, might have power to preach the Gospel. And pray, asking that God would keep us all safe and protect us especially from evil. 
  4. Do other things as a family. Family worship does not just have to be about "Bible and prayer."
    • Play a game together.
    • Eat together.
    • BE together.
    • Look for ways to grow together as we are stuck together.  

Remember, this odd time of being stuck at home together is an opportunity for your family.   

  • Effectively, we are on a forced Sabbath rest.                 
  • This can be a great time to grow together.
  • This is an opportunity to show that Christianity is not just about "going to church." Rather, it is something fundamentally deeper than that, and it still is something we pursue even when we CAN'T "go to church."   
  • This is an opportunity to grow in how you lead your family. We are all called to press onto maturity, to teach and lead our families.
  • You might not feel ready. But take this situation as a calling from God -he is teaching you to fly.